Resurrecting a dead thread just because Underworld is on again.
Rick Baker is a creative genius and his leaving films is a tremendous loss for us all. The Howling (which he started the FX work on and then left to do AWIL) has good to great effects (fireside sex/transformation scene is a rarity), while AWIL has the scene that is still the standard 35 freaking years later. Underworld caught my eye immediately (and not just for Kate Beckinsale in a latex catsuit... ok, that DID catch my eye) because from the first viewing it was clear that it had real prosthetic effects and very well blended CGI. As others mentioned AWIP used a lot of CGI. I can tell you from being in the A/V business back then (1997), the special effects CGI that were developed for that were a huge advancement and were touted at all of the industry shows. The problem was that they forgot about the physical and relied on the amazement factor (and probably cost reduction) of CGI. CGI effects combined with physical (Wolves, Bitten, etc...) can be excellent. Or when physical is well done (Ginger Snaps series) so we see, and believe, the process, it pulls you in. When they forget about that and go all CGI with some half-assed physical (Darkwolf, etc...) it ruins the whole movie. I guess what I'm trying to say is Please don't go Rick, also Kate Beckinsale in a latex catsuit...
